Seasons 1915-1919
original illustrations of the kits worn during the season


Change Kit
unitedkits_kit_0331
unitedkits_number_0331
Variant
unitedkits_kit_0332
unitedkits_number_0332

 
Seasons in brief

1915/16: United played in the Lancashire Section, finishing 11th in the main competition held between September and February. In the subsidiary tournament, held in March and April, the club finishing bottom. Jack Mew, Cyril Barlow and Alf Davies all became first team regulars at Old Trafford. Davies moved to Bolton Wanderers at the end of the season. On December 23rd Sandy Turnbull, Arthur Whalley and Enoch West, along with four Liverpool players and L Cook of Chester, were all banned sine die by the Football League Commission for their part in fixing the result of United's game against Liverpool on Good Friday 1915. In January 1916 the League announced the match result would stand, confirming United's First Division status when the League resumed.

1916/17: In September J J Bentley, in poor health, resigned from his position as Secretary, with Jack Robson assuming the responsibility. Jack Silcock, Tommy Forster and Clarence 'Lal' Hilditch, all became first team regulars. The club finished 7th in the 16 team Lancashire Section Principal Tournament, and 4th in the Subsidiary Tournament.

1917/18: In June 1917 United signed Tommy Meehan, a twenty year old inside forward from Rochdale. He marked his début in the opening day fixture at Blackburn by scoring in United's 5-0 win. Two former United players, Frank Buckley and Ted Connor, returned to Old Trafford as 'guests', playing most of the games in 1917/18. United finished 8th of 16 in both the Principal and Secondary Tournaments.

1918/19: The Armistice was signed on November 11th 1918, although football's regional structure remained in place until the end of the season. The League lifted the suspensions on all of the players involved in the Easter 1915 match fixing scandal, with the exception of Enoch West, who had maiintained his innocence and brought an unsuccessful libel action. United finished 9th in the Principal Tournament and third (of 4) in Section C of the Subsidiary Tournament.